When I was first in agony with this nightmare I had developed issues which bothered me, curling toes, walking on the sides of my feet (over supination) and a floppy foot-with a high steppage gait.

The WC doctor referred to the curling toes as "hammer toes" and told me I had them due to my bunion. I had the bunion for many years, but my toes only curled like this after the injury to my foot. My sister was horrified when she saw them.

Fortunately, I no longer have the severe curling toes. I bought a product called Correct Toes and crammed it on my feet whenever I could stand it. i could not wear them in my shoes, because the toe boxes were too small. I also tortured myself with yoga toes.

I no longer have the high steppage gait but I continue to walk more on the edges of my feet than I did before the injury and my left foot is still a bit floppy, although no new professional has recently commented about the latter as others did before. I assume it has improved.

Have you experienced any of these symptoms with CRPS?

Have you had professional help to deal with these symptoms and were they noted as part of CRPS?

If you had swelling what did the doctors do for you? I still have an intractable swollen lump on my right ankle. I was able to remove considerable fluid from my leg with washing soda, a Bowen Method Technique I found on the Internet. I read that mechanical pressure damages the lymph drainage so I would not use it.

I have the issue w currling toes. The orthopedic says it's spasums...I dunno. It feels more than muscles.
I've had leg braces, custom made mind you. But the never fit right. And they cause fatigue.
As for my gait. Still an issue. I never noticed that but the medical field says I do.
Never had the high step.
However, when I had sever issues w my arm I had tos symptoms but nothing showed up on the mri. Yet raising my arn was impossible. My nuero said don't cuddle it or astrophy will happen. I cuddle it when I just can't but use it as I am able.
Besides the ldn and leg braces, I am kinda left in the dark.

Enna,

I did so many things, I only wished I had tried them earlier, although I did not know then that I had CRPS.

I used a 50 percent DMSO cream, but now I would buy a 100% solution and dilute it. The info out there says it works best on warm CRPS, but it also works on bursitis and other ailments.

Have you ever pool walked? Or done pool therapy, along with mirror therapy. Mirror therapy is fairly easy to set up for arms and hands, it is harder for legs.

You could exercise your arm in a pool, a whirlpool or in the tub. Atrophy is a big issue. My calves are the poster child for this. The gastroc leg muscle is known to get atrophic in CRPS.

Hi Bio,
Not my toes but my left hand badly curve to the point that my fingers were cutting off circulation. It maybe the same issue. I'm not sure but I had my hand surgically put in a normal pose then had my wrist fused and a 4" plate to hold it strong. This was directly due to CRPS.
Our bodies react strangely to this monster.
My gate is all messed up too but it's caused by a combination of my CRPS and a ever shrinking cerebellum at the brain stem area.
CRPS causes all kinds of problems. Learning to deal with them is a lot of the battle.
Be well my friend...

Hello Everyone,

First post here!

My toes are curled in a fixed position. As this began, I was in the midst of extensive Physical Therapy. But, my CRPS is relentless. The PT did not help. My toes are in the same position to this day. I am so thrilled that you were able to get your toes to straighten and that they remain that way still. Nice work!

Hello and Welcome Spike,

Sorry you had to join us but there is great support here. If you like, start a new thread to introduce yourself or just jump on in to posting.

Maybe Don't give up on any PT exercises they gave you to do at home. I sincerely believe that even if gains are not evident there is sometimes a reduction of loss and it helps circulation in the area.

Hi BB,

Imbalance of the foot muscles contributes to hammer toes. The mucles that keep the little toes straight tend to weaken even without CRPS. Throw in nerve dysfunction and voila curly toes. There are exercises good for this. The pulling a towel toe curls and one I do routinely using a band. with the foot flat on the ground place the band underneath the small toes, pull the band up to lift the toes then pull against the resistance to flatten them back to the floor. Do at least 40 reps since the muscles are tiny and resistance low it takes a lot of reps to get anywhere.

I have had to really stay on top of foot exercises because of a lot of atrophy and muscle dysfunction. A little tedious as a daily routine but worth it. I can't get the CRPS one as beefed up as the other but it is definitely a lot stronger than it used to be.

Thank you for the warm welcome.

I appreciate your encouragement to continue with my PT, yet... When PT sent me into the emergency room and is followed up by two additional surgeries, my pain management team and I decided that the cure was almost as bad as the disease. I may go back for more PT later, but for now... absolutely NO THANKS! I've had enough!

So sorry you have been through so much. I am a multiple foot surgery gal myself. No fun! I know PT can be a push and often we just have to see what works for us (which is often much less push than others want or think we should/could do). It sounds like you made a valiant effort. Just don't forget "PT" can be as simple as semi-routine toe wiggles, ankle circles and some easy swishing around in the pool. Even the gentlest of movement has benefit. I am all for tiny incremental gains. Do what you are able to and keep praising yourself for accomplishments no matter how small.

Thank you very much. I've had CRPS for years, just found the site recently. This isn't my first day at the rodeo.